Toy aircraft



Miy 1939- J. L. BONANNO I 2,159,963

TOY AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 4, 193? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONTROLLER M55 CONTROL CABLES INVENTOR 5 tfoseph L. Bonanno ATTORNEY May 30, 1939. J. BONANN O 2,159,963

' TOY AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1939 UNlTED STAT'ES "PATENT OFFICE TOY AIRCRAFT Joseph L. Bonanno, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application January 4, 1937, Serial No.- 118,967

16 Claims.

to cause the aircraft to rotate about the support.

The present invention contemplates improvements inthe operating and control mechanism .for toys of the type referred to. It contemplates improvements in the :mechanism whereby the speed of the aircraft is controlled mechanically rather than electrically. Attempts to control the speedof tethered toy airplanes by controlling the voltage applied to the-.operating motor are unsatisfactory where alternating current motors are employed, for such motors are ill-adapted for speed control by regulationof the applied voltage.

'A'ccordingto the present invention the full voltage is applied vto the motor and the speed controlis effected-by varying the load on the motor by means of a friction brake preferably interconnected With the switch control.

The present invention also contemplates an improved mechanism, for controlling the angle of approach of tethered toy airplanes, so that the "-25 airplane can be caused to climb, dip, loop, and

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the-like. According to the present invention this improved control mechanism includes motor I driven elements which may be readily and at will brought into driving relation with the vertical portion of a tubular shaft drivingly connected with a radial portion of the shaft in the form of a tubular aircraft supporting arm revolub-le about said vertical axis.- 'As this vertical portion of the'shaft-is revolving with the arm and aircraft, the tubular arm may be turned on its axis by speedingup'or retarding therate of rotation of the vertical portion of the tubular shaft. The mechanism'employed avoids excessive pressure between parts,- and upon the release ofthe Q40 externaljforceemployed, the parts are restored to their normal disconnected position.

The present invention also contemplates that the tethered toy aircraft shall include a fixed pylon-like structure carrying the motor and supporting arm for the aircraft, and a control unit which can be placedfar enough away from the pylon to be out of range of the aircraft as it circles about the pylon, this control unit carrying operating mechanism for speed control, as well as for 50 controlling the stunting of thefairplane.

Other and further. objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

' The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention one of the .manyembodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather .than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view on a small scale: showing the arrangement of pylon, the control unit, and the toy aircraft;

Figure 1a is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the electrical and mechanical layout of parts;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 6, and showing the pylon;

unit with parts broken away and parts omitted;

Figure 3a is a fragmentary sectional view show ins adetail of construction; 7

1 Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the lower part of the pylon unit taken on the;. line 4-4 of Figures 2 and 3, the switch being in' the open position and the stunting control in neutral position; 7

Figure 4a is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 4, the full lines showing the switch operating mechanism in switch closed position, the dotted lines showing it in the extreme brake lifting position;

Figure 4b is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4b of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the operat ing mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

. Figure 6 is an inverted plan view with parts in section on the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure? is a fragmentary sectional view show 5 ing a detail of construction; and

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

In Figure l the pylon is indicated at Ill, the;

' aircraft supporting arm at H, the aircraft at l2 and the external control at l3. The external control and the pylon are connected together by a flexible casing indicated at M. p

The pylon I0 includes a base casting which. carries a propulsion unit indicated generally by u .the letter P, a hollow sheet metal supporting 7 motor is secured in place by bolts indicated at 28.

The armature shaft 29 carries a gear 39 in mesh with a gear 3| carried by a vertical shaft 32. This shaft, as shown in Figure 3, is mounted in bearings 33 and 34, carried'by the frame casting 29. The upper end of the shaft 32 is reduced to receive a worm gear 35, as indicated in Figure 8a and is counterbored, as indicated at 36 to receive the threaded stem 37 of a coupling member 38 provided for a flexible shaft 39. This shaft operates the propeller 49 to rotate it about an axis tangential with respect to the vertical shaft. The mechanism will be described in detail below.

The worm 35 is in mesh with a worm wheel 4| carried on a horizontal shaft 46 slidably mounted in bearings 41 in the frame casting 29, and carrying disks 48 and 49, preferably cone shaped, as shown, and made of soft rubber. Either of these disks may (by means of mechanism to be described) be brought into engagement with a disk 59 adapted to be secured by a clamp, indicated at i, to a tubular shaft 52 mounted in a vertical bearing 53 in the frame member 29. The drive for the disks 48 and 49 is such that they have a greater peripheral speed than that attainable by the disk 59 owing to the rotation of the aircraft about the vertical axis. The tubular shaft 52 encloses the flexible shaft 39, and is held in the bearing 53 by an annular enlargement, indicated at 54. This tubular shaft 52 is adapted, by mechanism to be described, to control the adjustment of the tubular arm II, which supports the aircraft I2.

The external control unit I3 is provided with two levers 99 and Bi, adapted to be shifted back and forth manually to control starting, stopping, and speed of the aircraft, as well as stunting. These levers are each connected to push and pull wires which extend through the flexible cable I4. One of these wires, indicated at 92, is used for controlling the starting and stopping of the motor and the motor speed, while the other wire 93 is used for controlling the stunting of the aircraft.

The wire 62 is connected with a Z-shaped sliding member 64, normally held in the position shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 by means of a strong spring 95 anchored to a lug 66 carried by a plate 61 secured to the bottom of the body casting 29 by screws, indicated at B8. The upper remote end 89 of the Z-shaped member 94 is, as shown in Figure 4b, normally in engagement with an oscillatory switch operating element I9 for actuating the movable contact I9 of the switch indicated at II in the circuit of the motor 2I.

The horizontal portion I2 of the Z-shaped member 54 is surrounded by a coiled spring I3, and engages the forked end I4 of a brake arm I5 pivoted at I6. The brake arm carries a friction pad TI held against a brake drum I8 by a spring I9. The spring i9 is strong enough to apply sufiicient braking effort to the brake drum I9 to stall the motor. The spring I3, when fully expanded, is slightly shorter than the distance from the upwardly-extending element 69 to the end of the brake arm 75, so that there must be lost motion between the parts. This is clear from Figure 4.

When one actuates the control lever 69 to pull on the wire 92, the parts are first moved from the position in Figure 4 to the position shown in full lines in Figure 4a. During this movement the switch is shifted from open circuit to closed circuit position, and the left end of the coiled spring I3 is brought against the fork I4 of the brake lever. Further movement of the control lever 99 in the same direction will move the parts toward the dot-and-dash line position, shown in Figure 4a, and will compress the spring I3. Hence less and less braking effort is applied by the brake and the motor can accelerate. In order that the brake shoe may be lifted completely clear of the brake drum to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the reciprocatory member 94 is provided with ears 89, which pass through the coils of the spring so as to positively engage the brake arm I5. It will thus be apparent that by manipulating the lever 69 one can energize the motor, control the speed of the motor and propeller of the plane, and remove all control so that the motor is allowed to operate at full speed.

The stunt control lever GI and wire 63 actuate an L-shaped plunger 99 guided in the frame casting 29, as shown. This plunger is surrounded by two coiled springs 9! and 92 which oppose one another. The adjacent ends of the springs 9| and 92 are carried by sleeves 93 and 94, Figure I, and the plunger 99 is provided with cars 95 against which these sleeves are normally urged. The lower end 99 of a lever 91 is also received between the sleeves 93 and 94. This lever 91 is pivoted at 98 and at its upper end carries a yoke 99, which enters between the disks 48 and 49, carried on the shaft 46, as shown in Figure 4.

When the parts are in the normal position the springs 9| and 92 hold'the lever 96 in the full line position, as indicated in Figure 4. Should one operate the lever ISI to pull the wire 53 and shift the L-shaped member 99 to the left (Figure 4), or the right (Figures 6 and '7) the spring 92 will be compressed by engagement of the lugs 95 on the plunger 99 with the sleeve 93, and this will allow the spring 9I to expand and shift the lever 91, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. It will thus be apparent that the pressure developed between the contacting surfaces of the disks is under the control of one or the other of the springs 9| or 92 so that excessive pressures are avoided. It is obvious that when one of the disks 48 or 49 is brought against the disk 59, the tubular shaft 52 will be accelerated, and that when the other disk 48 or 49 is brought into engagement with the disk 59 the shaft 52 will be slowed down.

The side walls of the pylon are preferably made of two like sheet metal halves WI and I92, as more clearly illustrated in Figure 8. vThey are overlapped at the sides and secured together by screws 893. They are flanged inwardly at the bottom and secured to the base plate I5 by screws I94 and a clamping ring. I95. There are similarly inwardly flanged at the top, as indicated at I06, and secured to the top H of the pylon by screws iil'I and a clamping ring I98.

This upper pylon member I1 is preferably in the form of a casting having a pendant central tubular element I99 and upwardly-extending side walls, indicated at II9. It is recessed as indicated at III to receive a ball bearing IIZ. A turntable I I3 is connected to a tube II4, which passes down through the bearing I I2 and through the pendant tubular portion I99 of the casting III]. The turntable is free to revolve in these bearings,

The outer tubular shaft 52 is conneced to a coiled spring H6, which in turn is drivingly connected with a tubular shaft II'I revolubly' carried in the tube II4. This tubular shaft houses the upper end of the flexible shaft member 39, and is dn'vingly connected by a coiled spring I I8 with the tubular arm II, so that the tubular arm II may partake of the rotary movement of the disk 56. -The tubular arm II is revolubly carried in an arm H9, pivoted at I20 to the turntable H3, so as to swing about a horizontal axis. The pivoted arm H9 is provided with an upward extension I 2I carrying a threaded stud I22 to receive a nut I23, and a loading spring I24 is connected from the nut I 23 to an extension I25 on the turntable II3. Owing to the relation of the parts it is possible to achieve a balancing of the plane at the various elevations in flight. The product of the spring tension and the effective lever arm through which it acts varies in, the same fashion as the product of the mass of the plane and supporting arm and the horizonal distance from the pivot to the center of mass.

The propeller 40 of the aircraft is mounted on a tangential axis as above set forth, and is drivingly connected with a flexible shaft element I26, which is coupled at I21 with another flexible shaft element I28, and this is in turn coupled at I29 with the upper end of the flexible shaft 39. To provide a finish for the top of the pylon and protect the mechanism the device is provided with an enclosing cover I30.

In the preferred adjustment of parts the spring I24 is strong enough to sustain most of the weight of the plane, so that the plane rests lightly'on the floor at the level of the base of the pylon. As soon as the speed control lever 60 is actuated to start the toy, themotor is switched on and the brake gradually released, so that there is an acceleration of the motor rather than a sudden burst of speed. This gives the plane a more realistic take-off, as it rises up into the air. Owing to the tangential relation of the propeller shaft and the tubular support for the plane, the turntable and plane supporting arm start to revolve around the vertical axis of the pylon. The plane can be gradually brought to speed and the speed lowered, if desired, to make a landing. The stunting of the plane is accomplished by the lever 61 which shifts the disk 48 or the disk 49 into engagement with the disk 50, which is re- .volving at the speed of rotation of the plane supporting arm II about the vertical. axis. The speed of this disk is changed so as to turn the tubular shaft I I and change the angle of approach of the plane, causing it to dive, climb, execute loops and the like.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims and I wish it to be understood that the form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a stationary support, a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propelleroperating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to thepropeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-off motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, and manually-operable mechanism for. applying a variable braking effort on the motor to control the speed of the motor and the propeller.

2. A toy comprising a stationarysupport, a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propelleroperating shaft extending through the tubular tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraftmounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propelleroperating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-off motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a springpressed friction brake for controlling the speed of the motor and propeller, a brake release comprising a spring operating in opposition to the brake pressing spring and adapted to be placed under gradually increased load so as to lessen the effect of the brake pressing spring, and a brake lifter operating after a predetermined load has been placed on the second mentioned spring.

4. A toy comprising, a stationary support, a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on .the' end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propeller-operating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-ofi motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a switch operator, a spring-pressed friction brake for controlling the speed of the motor and propeller, and a brakej release interconnected with the switch operator for varying the braking effort while the switch is closed. 7

5. A toy comprising a stationary support, a

.tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propeller-operating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-off motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a switch opavertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propeller-operating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-ofr" motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a switch operator, a spring-pressed friction brake for controlling the speed of the motor and propeller, and a brake release interconnected with the switch operator for diminishing the braking efiort as the switch operator is moved beyond the switch closing position to control the acceleration of the motor.

7. A toy comprising a stationary support, a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propelleroperating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis, an on-and-off motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a switch operator for opening and closing the switch and having freedom of movement while the switch is closed, a spring-pressed friction brake for controlling the speed of the motor and propeller, and a switch-operator-actuated brake control for obtaining variable braking effort or for reducing it to Zero.

8. A toy comprising a stationary support, a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a miniature aircraft mounted on the end of the arm and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis, a propeller-operating shaft extending through the tubular arm, a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said'vertical axis, an on-and-oii motor starting switch for applying full voltage to the motor, a switch operator, and mechanism interconnected with the switch operator for applying a variable braking effort on the motor to control the speed of the motor and propeller and including. a flexible push and pull member connected to an operator disposed at a distance from the support, so as to be outside the area over which the tubular arm and aircraft sweep.

9. A propulsion unit for tethered aircraft toys, comprising an electric motor, a motor driven shaft for actuating the propeller of the toy aircraft, a motor driven brake drum, a brake arm, a brake spring for pressing the brake arm against the drum, a manually-operable brake controller having yieldable means for imposing a variable force in opposition to the brake spring, so that the braking efiort may be adjusted, a brake lifter operated by the controller and brought into operation after the brake pressure has been reduced, and a return spring for the brake controller whereby the brake may be restored to the drum.

1.0. A propulsion unit for tethered aircraft toys, comprising an electric motor, a motor control switch, a motor driven shaft for actuating the propeller of the toy aircraft, a motor driven brake drum, a brake arm, a brake spring for pressing the brake arm against the drum, a manually-operable brake controller having means for closing the switch, yieldable means for thereafter imposinga variable force in opposition to the brake spring, so that the braking eifort may be adjusted, a brake lifter operated by the controller and brought into operation. after the brake pressure has been reduced, and a return spring for the brake controller whereby the brake may be restored to the drum and the switch opened.

11. A propulsion unit for tethered aircraft toys, comprising a base, an electric motor, a motor driven shaft for actuating the propeller of the toy aircraft, a motor driven brake drum, a. brake arm, a brake spring for pressing the brake arm against the drum, and brake controlling mechanism including a reciprocatory member which carries a spring normally out of contact with the brake arm but movable with said member to impose a varying force on the brake arm in opposition to the brake spring, whereby the braking effort is adjusted by moving the member back and forth, a brake lifter operable to remove the brake from the drum, and a return spring for the reciprocatory member.

12. A toy comprising a stationary support; a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis and for rotation about a radialv axis; a miniature airplane mounted on the end of the arm to partake of the turning oi the arm about its longitudinal axis and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis; a propeller-operating shaft extending through the tubular arm; a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis; and means for turning the tubular arm about its longitudinal axis, comprising a pair of disks driven from the motor, a disk drivingly connected with the tubular arm, a yoke for shifting one or the other of the pair of disks into contact with the arm turning disk, and yoke shifting means including opposed springs to limit the contact pressure between the disks in engagement and which normally shift the yoke to neutral position.

13. A toy comprising a stationary support; a tubular arm mounted thereon for rotation about a vertical axis and for rotation about a radial axis; a miniature airplane mounted on the end of the arm to partake of the turning of the arm about its longitudinal axis and provided with a propeller rotatable about an axis which is tangential with respect to the vertical axis; a propelleroperating shaft extending through the tubular arm; a stationary electric motor drivingly connected to the propeller shaft for operating the propeller to effect rotation of the arm about said vertical axis; a spring-pressed friction brake for controlling the speed of the motor and propeller; a brake release comprising a spring operating in opposition to the brake pressing spring and adapted to be placed under gradually increased load so as to lessen the eifect of the brake pressing spring, and a flexible push and pull member connected to an operator; means for turning the tubular arm about its longitudinal axis comprising a pair of disks driven from the motor, a disk drivingly connected with the tubular arm, a yoke for shifting one or the other of the pair of disks into contact with the arm turning disk; and a yoke shifter including a flexible push and pull member connected to an operator, both operators being disposed at a distance from the support so as to be outside the area over which the tubular arm and airplane sweep.

14. A propulsion unit for tethered airplane toys comprising an electric motor; a motor driven shaft for actuating the propeller of the toy airplane; an outer concentric shaft free to rotate relative to the first shaft; and means for turning the outer shaft comprising a disk carried by said outer shaft, a pair of motor driven disks normally out of engagement with the first disk, a yoke for shifting either of the pair of disks into engagement with the first disk, and a yoke operator having springs for restoring the yoke to normal position and limiting the contact pressure between the disks.

15. A propulsion unit for airplane toys comprising a frame, an electric motor mounted thereon, a vertically disposed motor driven shaft, a flexible propeller operating shaft drivingly connected to the motor driven shaft, an outer shaft rotatably supported by the frame and through which the propeller operating shaft passes, a disk carried by the outer shaft, a secondary shaft slidably carried in fixed bearings in the frame and drivingly connected with the first shaft, a pair of disks secured to the secondary shaft, and means for shifting the shaft and disks back and forth longitudinally of said bearings to engage one or the other of the pair of disks with the first disk, whereby the same may be angularly adjusted.

16. A propulsion unit for airplane toys comprising a frame, an electric motor mounted thereon, a vertically disposed motor driven shaft, a flexible propeller operating shaft drivingly connected to the motor driven shaft, an outer shaft rotatably supported by the frame and through which the propeller operating shaft passes, a disk carried by the outer shaft, a secondary shaft slidably carried in fixed bearings in the frame and drivingly connected with the first shaft, a pair of disks secured to the secondary shaft, a pivoted yoke for shifting the shaft and disks back and forth longitudinally of said bearings to engage cne or the other of the pair of disks with the first disk, whereby the same may be angularly adjusted, and a yoke operator including tWo opposed springs which limit the contact pressure of the disks and restore the yoke to neutral position.

JOSEPH L. BONANNO. 

